My Kind of Town, Chicago is
So, if you don’t play Scrabble for 11 weeks in a row, what do you get? A blockbuster, that’s what.
Instead of playing Scrabble, Sharon Gerber Scherer, devoted all her waking hours to producing a Broadway Musical on the Main Stage at Act2PV. For 11 weeks. An unheard of amount of rehearsal time! Other producers in the ‘hood, take note – more rehearsal time equals Quality on Opening Night.
I sat next to Sharon in the front row last Friday. Her energy bounced between screaming YES! at the top of her lungs, to ohgodplease…depending on who was doing what onstage.
Lots of friends in the audience to see Chicago the Musical, and I am happy to say Sharon has created a new standard at Act2PV, for sure, and possibly in Vallarta. Chicago was ready. In all its razzle-dazzle and feathers, everyone knew precisely what they were doing,
I have never, ever seen an ensemble cast tighter than this crew. There’s always one dancer, one actor who is a split second late with delivery. Not in this production. I actually jumped in my seat during the second act, surprised by a response from the cast that split the air with its decisiveness. Boom, like a gunshot. Perfect.
The choreography was interesting, intricate, and busy on the stage floor, which was cut in half by the specially constructed platforms for Chicago’s Musical Director, the brilliant pianist David Maiocco, and the lovely percussionist, Mairead O’Grady, who was barely visible behind her massive drum kit. These two played nonstop, catching a breather during intermission only. Separating these two musicians was the entryway/exit for the principals for much of the performance. Kudos to Edgar Roman and Luiger Paez for their outstanding choreography.
Four friends onstage, the cornerstones of this production, all sang well and acted accordingly: Gabe Arciniega as Billy Flynn, Stephanie Wright Watts as Roxie Hart, Cate Elizabeth as Velma Kelly, and Empressa Al-Yasha as Mama. The other supporting actors and singers were wonderful.
Chicago the Musical is a tour de force – Danny Mininni, this one’s for you.
Due to circumstances beyond their control, the First Saturday of the Month, normally held at Arte Vallarta Museo, changed venues to their sister property at the top of Olas Altas on Pilitas. It was great, closer for everyone to get to, and from the crowd that attended, the change inconvenienced nobody. The music was fabulous, with the violinist in a corner of the basement Speakeasy, surrounded by old books and art. She had a rapt audience.
As always, lively discussions took place throughout this eclectic artistic building, which is Performance Art all by itself. Add painter Javier Niño and his wife, Nathalie Herling who is the Director of it all, and you have delightful magic, a good selection of wines, and terrific company all round. Art Vallarta contains a long-term-stay hotel, a well-equipped art store, a plastic arts school, a theatre, with Susan Jeremy’s one-person show coming up soon on that stage, and rooms full of art.
The third annual Mr Vallarta gets underway at Coco Cabaret this afternoon at 5, and Jardin Cafe Lounge’s 2nd Birthday Party is an hour later. See you at both, From Here.
